Fronting up
Nyakane aims to impress World Cup selectors
The 2019 World Cup in Japan is still some six months away and experienced Bulls prop Trevor Nyakane has admitted that the competition will be in the back of many players’ minds in the Super Rugby campaign.
The Bulls start their Super Rugby season with a potentially spicy South African derby against the Stormers at Loftus on Saturday and Nyakane said those who raised their hands in the competition would improve their chances of World Cup selection.
“Obviously, everyone is talking about the World Cup but for me it’s only about the Bulls at this point in time‚” he said at the Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria as the Bulls prepared for the high-profile visit of their bitter rivals at the weekend.
“The World Cup will come later in the year. If the Bulls do well, then I will most likely get selected and all I am worried about now is the Bulls.
“I believe that if we do well as a union‚ the chances of me getting into the World Cup squad are bigger but‚ like I said earlier‚ my focus is on doing well for the Bulls.”
The Bulls lost to the Stormers in a preseason friendly in Cape Town two weeks ago.
Nyakane said they lost because they gave away soft tries.
“It was our mistakes that cost us that game against the Stormers two weeks ago but we have worked on those things and hopefully they are sorted out,” he said.
“We all know that if you are going to make such mistakes against a good side like the Stormers‚ they are going to punish you the whole day.
“It is something that we have to rectify by keeping the ball in hand and making sure that there is continuity in the game‚” he said, adding that no player needed motivation for a big game against the Stormers.
“I don’t think you need to be motivated for a game of this magnitude. If you are not ready for a derby like this, then you shouldn’t be here.”
The Stormers are known for their power in the front row and powerful pack but Nyakane said the Bulls would have to match, or even do better than them, if they are to start their season with a win.
“I have no idea what they are thinking or what their approach is going to be but all I know is that whatever they bring we will have to match it or even do better.
“Scrum is a battle you have to win on the day‚ it is something we will both go for and we can’t wait to see what happens on the day. The only way you can win Super Rugby is by being consistent the whole season and you can’t have too many ups and downs.”